Carlyle, China PE firms bid $3.5 billion for Focus Media

HONG KONG U.S. buyout fund Carlyle Group (CG.O) and some of China's top private equity funds are targeting the biggest ever delisting of a New York-listed Chinese company, attempting to privatize a firm directly targeted by shortseller Muddy Waters.

The offer is the latest, and biggest by some distance, in a string of attempted management-led buyouts by U.S.-listed Chinese companies, whose reputation among U.S. investors has suffered after a series of alleged accounting scandals.

Private equity funds have been picking over hundreds of China firms listed in the United States, looking for viable takeover targets, but until now the deals have all been below $1 billion, largely because of difficulties getting financial backing.

"Where these firms have often struggled with the delisting process is in getting financing to back them," said Paul Boltz, partner at law firm Ropes & Gray, which has worked on a number of take-private transactions.

Funding for buyouts of Chinese companies is done through an offshore holding company, but many banks cannot lend on such deals due to the risk of non-payment. Banks have to get comfortable with the risk that the firm will make enough revenue to pay its debt, that it will pass on the funds to the holding company, and that Chinese regulators will sign off on the transaction.

Citigroup (C.N), Credit Suisse and DBS Bank are backing the Focus Media deal, and have asserted they are highly confident of underwriting a financing.

Ropes & Gray estimate that 11 China firms have so far been delisted from the United States, while a further 17 including Focus Media are now in the process of attempting to delist. Four companies attempted to delist but then cancelled, including Puda Coal (PUDA.PK).

Focus Media shares, which peaked above $66 in 2007, jumped 8 percent to $25.26 on the bid, but were still short of the offer price of $27 per American depositary share.

SHORT SELLING

Shanghai-based Focus Media -- which operates advertising screens in offices, elevators and supermarkets across China -- has faced persistent allegations from short-seller Muddy Waters that it overstated its assets and overpaid for acquisitions.

Its stock fell 40 percent in a day last November after a Muddy Waters report, which the company said did not take into account its digital screens and LCD picture frame devices.

In January, the firm denied further allegations about irregularities in the purchase of a ginseng plantation.

"Focus Media is under a lot of valuation pressure because of controversies surrounding the company," said T.H. Capital Research analyst Tian Hou, adding that a successful deal would help other Chinese companies regain credibility among U.S. investors.

The Focus Media deal triggered a 7 percent jump in shares of New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc (EDU.N), which Muddy Waters has accused of lying about its network and cash balances.

Muddy Waters founder Carson Block welcomed the offer, telling Reuters: "The markets are far better off if a few deep-pocketed investors own Focus Media instead of mutual funds and other public shareholders."

BUY-OUTS INCREASING

The increased scrutiny on U.S.-listed Chinese firms has depressed their share prices and encouraged management buy-outs to take advantage of big discounts to peers on the Hong Kong and Chinese stock markets.

The deals, known in banking circles as "take China privates" have so far been relatively small, but history shows that for private equity there is high upside potential.

Morgan Stanley Private Equity's delisting of Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd (0460.HK) is regularly cited as an example of returns that can be made with the right target.

MSPE took Sihuan private in Singapore in 2009, identifying a company that required no additional work before relisting in Hong Kong in October 2010. The stock jumped 28 percent on its IPO, with top-end pricing valuing the company at 26.7 times 2011 earnings.

In the past year, Harbin Electric, Chemspec International and China Fire & Security have all been delisted from the United States, by Abax Global Capital, Primavera Capital and Bain Capital respectively.

Fushi Copperweld Inc FSIN.O, China TransInfo Technology Corp CTFO.O and Winner Medical Group Inc WWIN.O are among many that have accepted take-private offers from their managements but are yet to complete the privatization process.

Shares of Focus Media trade at a multiple of 8.3 times their forward earnings, a deep discount to its five-year historical average and the industry average, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine.

"We think the (Focus Media) stock has been undervalued trading at high single-digit PE when the earnings growth is expected to be above 20-25 percent," Macquarie Securities analyst Jiong Shao told Reuters.

"Focus Media has a great business, generates tons of cash, pays dividend and buys back its shares."

The company's board has formed a committee of independent directors to consider the offer. Chief executive Jason Nanchun Jiang held about 18 percent of the outstanding shares as of December 31, according to the company's annual report. He bought $11 million of the company's ADSs in November.

Next In Deals

NEW YORK The Beechwood group of reinsurance companies is in talks to sell most or all of itself after a backlash from some clients due to its relationship with troubled hedge fund manager Platinum Partners, according to a person familiar with the situation.

FRANKFURT German semiconductor chipmaking machinery company Aixtron may sell off part of its business, its chief executive said in an interview published on Friday, opening the door for bidders after a deal with a Chinese company collapsed.

Santa Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand Inc has received approaches from potential buyers as shareholders including Praesidium Investment Management push the company to run a formal process, Bloomberg reported.

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